Shortly before 1.30pm the lorry apparently suffered brake failure and gathered pace as it rolled down the steep incline of Green Street which, at the height of summer, was busy with people.

As the driver frantically sounded the horn to warn of the danger, people leaped to safety. Along the way, the truck hit a number of cars, completely tearing the side off one.

According to Dingle Gardaí, one of the damaged cars had a two-year-old child inside, who emerged – miraculously – unscathed. The toddler's father received six stitches while a number of other people were treated for minor injuries at the Dingle Medical Centre.

The Kerryman was present at the scene moments after impact and the sense of shock and relief that nobody was killed or seriously injured was palpable.

Locals were full of praise for the young driver of the truck who kept a cool head in a desperate situation and put the safety of others before his own by opting to crash into the shopfront rather than attempting to round a blind bend on the street.

Emergency services attended the scene and the driver of the vehicle was brought to Kerry General Hospital where he was treated for a broken wrist.

Dingle Gardaí confirmed to The Kerryman afterwards that a technical team and the Forensic Collision Investigator examined the scene afterwards.

The vehicle itself, which Gardaí confirmed was collecting glass bottles at Dick Mack's pub prior to the incident, was finally removed from the scene by a tow truck shortly before 8pm on Wednesday evening and taken away for technical examination.

While Gardaí were unable to say what caused the truck to go out of control, it is believed that it suffered brake failure.